Greater international cooperation in combating organised crime is being urged by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who, yesterday, reiterated that the threat is taking root in the Jamaican Diaspora through illicit networks involved in lottery scamming and firearms trafficking.

Holness, who was addressing the opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay, St James, said criminal organisations have become increasingly transnational, creating the need for a coordinated response between Jamaica and its international partners.

"A part of that lesson is that the criminal network is connected," said Holness while outlining the country's recent progress in reducing violent crime.